Friday, 31 August 2012

It's crunch time you guys. Last weekend before I take off my money-making hat and put on my student hat. Which of course means getting a little shopping out of my system.

I got these great grey-blue jeans at the Gap, and I really like them, they've got a good amount of stretch and are a really cool blue-grey-black colour to them.

But my favourite buy just HAS to be this amazing bag. I have said it once and I'll say it again, I am NOT a backpack person...at all. But looking through my purse collection, nothing screamed "Take me to College!" But when I saw this stunning "brief-tote" at Town Shoes I just couldn't resist. It has little dividers for my computer and books and pens and whatnots. It's just perfect. It's professional looking, simple and stylish. OK GUYS. Now I'm ready. :)

Thursday, 30 August 2012

I've been sick at home the past few days, what's a girl to do when she can't be at work? Shoe shop online! I don't know if it's the NyQuil or the fever that's making me delirious but I would do horrible things to get these shoesies in my closet.

Wednesday, 29 August 2012

Right by Midnight gave me the opportunity to shoot and design the album artwork for their second album, "Leave the Door Open". It was a lot of fun to do, when I wasn't stressing out about teaching myself how to use PhotoShop again. It was such a blast cavorting around Ottawa at night getting some great shots of lights around the city. I thought I'd give you a little sneak peak of the album itself. I love how it turned out.

"Leave the Door Open" is their second album. I've heard the whole thing and let me tell you, it sounds great! It's going to be out on October 2nd, but they're album release party is going to be on September 28th at Mavericks in Ottawa!

Tuesday, 28 August 2012

In exactly ONE WEEK I will be back in school. OH GOSH. As Billy Madison said, back to school, back to school, to prove to Dad that I'm not a fool.

An ideal first day of school outfit. Classic dark wash jeans with a no fuss light tank top. Who knows what the temperature inside the classroom is going to be like, so maybe bring a a cool jacket. Add a really interesting necklace and some fall booties and you're set! I also am not a huge fan of backpacks, so a stylish laptop case and a tote bag are perfect for carrying everything around.STOKED!

Monday, 27 August 2012

After watching countless videos this morning on youtube of Leandra Medine, AKA the Man repeller, I've decided that her aesthetic is one that I can almost fully get behind.

I've always lived my life feeling that I look like a bit of a boy. I've always been drawn to a more ambiguous type of fashion. And the idea of girls in trousers, mens shirts and motorcycle jackets has always made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. There's this quote from Lady Gaga that I always kind of liked, where she said that she preferred to look interesting rather than beautiful, I always kind of related to that. It didn't help that I grew up mostly flat chested and gangly with what I thought was buck teeth and a big nose, I felt stupid trying to look pretty or sexy even. (Sexy doesn't even fit into my vocabulary)

Growing up I remember my pre-teen years being filled with t-shirts and hoodies. In grade 8 my friends and I competed in a community cable quiz show, we (they) thought it would be clever to all wear rainbow striped halter tops. I had never felt so naked or awkward in my life. All I wanted was to crawl back into my Billabong hoodie and go home.

To me, that was kind of like pre-man-repelling. While in school all my friends were having all sorts of boys get crushes on them in their cute skirts and tank tops, while I was hanging out in a pair of skinny jeans (before they were popular!) some colourful Vans and a graphic tshirt. Not exactly a boy-entrancing outfit.

As I got older it only got worse, (or better?) going out to bars with my friends would be an excuse to hold my own little fashion show. I would never be seen in a strapless tight thing or some sort of revealing shirt. I remember going to bars in backless, neon studded tshirts, or leather pants with an oversized mustard yellow clutch. I never wanted to go to a bar and get hit on, I just wanted to dance around in an outfit that made me feel good.

From what I got from Leandra and her musings on man repelling, is that it's not about actually trying to get shunned by the opposite sex, it's really about making yourself happy. And in so many words, what is usually an aesthetic that is pleasing to the fashion loving girl, isn't so appealing to a guy. I'd never know a man to say to a lady, "Wow, those harem pants look fantastic," or "I totally LOVE your denim shirt." Man repelling is not about buying or wearing things that make you ugly, it's about wearing things that make you happy. About dressing to impress YOURSELF.

Going out in public in an outfit that I feel really jazzed about doesn't make me long for the stare of a man, it makes me want to get a, "oh wow, I love your outfit" FROM A GIRL. Because they understand. Man repelling is basically what all fashion conscious girls practice whenever they get together and talk about their favourite purchases or their favourite trend du jour. And this is not to say that men don't like the way we look when we are doing our own thang sartorially, they just may not understand fully.

I always joke that I never should ask Charles what he wants for dinner. I should just pick something and make it without even giving him an option. Most of the time, it doesn't matter what I cook, he'll like it. (And before I make myself sound like a 1950's housewife, I'll tell you that I genuinely enjoy cooking...sometimes) But it's the same with fashion. I know Charles loves the end results no matter what I'm wearing, and I think that's what Leandra is getting at with all her man repelling shenanigans, it's a secretly very feminist way of thinking. Just be yourself, because like Dr. Suess says, "the people who mind don't matter and the people who matter don't mind"

Wednesday, 22 August 2012

I love getting all inspired by home decorating SCHTUFF. I may be taking a trip to my beloved Ikea this week and I'm really hankering for some (inexpensive) updates that will take our apartment TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

A breezy entryway: Right now our entryway is a mixture of a shoe pile and bicycles. This is much more chic dontcha think?

This Bathroom: Our bathroom right now is super tiny and has lighting similar to that of a CSI autopsy scene. But I guess that's apartments for you... I love the idea of having the bath and shower enclosed in a waterproof area. Clean and simple!

A bar: Maybe the reason I drink stale wine on the weekends is that I don't have a cute little bar to mix drinks with?

MORE COFFEE TABLE BOOKS: I have a few coffee table books, but, I NEED MORE.

A cool coffee table: I'll need a more interesting coffee table to put all my new coffee table books on, that's just the way it goes.

All images are from Pinterest. Wanna see more? Follow me on Pinterest! (Jennifer Baguss)

Tuesday, 21 August 2012

When it comes to jewelry, I LOVE supporting Canadian designers. (it's a good idea to support ANYTHING Canadian, but I especially love Canadian jewelry designers!) I feel like anything that's made by someone who isn't a big brand, (popping out a million pairs of earrings a week) is special.The other day I was at Magpie in the mall when I came across another really cool, eye-catching collection. The salesgirl told me it was by Biko, a Toronto-based company. So I knew I just had to get something. (Especially since I had been sitting on a Magpie store credit for a few months that was almost the EXACT amount as one of the really cool Biko bracelets.)I wish I had more to spend because the jewelry is so ME. I liked pretty much everything in the display case. The price point is also great considering that the jewelry is all hand made. So you know lots of love and care went into it. Check out their latest lookbook, "A Light Odyssey Into Tomorrow", over at their website, here. Or take a look at their blog, here. I am so in love!

Monday, 20 August 2012

That is the question. Buying vintage clothes always is a little trickier than going to the mall and picking something out off the rack. Most of the times, a vintage piece is one of a kind. You will probably NEVER, ever find the same thing, in the same condition, with the same fit, again. So what do you do when you have a vintage item, that you really love, but maybe you'd love it more as something else?

For example, I bought a fabulous vintage acid wash denim jacket a while ago, and I love it. I tried it on to be funny but it turned out the joke was on me, "hey look at me all wacky in this denim ja- wait a minute...this actually looks really good!"

So I bought it, and wore it a few times, but it always seemed that the sleeves were a bit too '80's for my liking. Very puffy. So I started thinking that maybe this jacket would be better re purposed (or re porpoised for all you dolphin readers out there) into a denim vest!

I've always wanted a cool denim vest, but being a long and lumpy girl, the cheap ones you can buy are never the right length or shape for me. I WANTED A LEVIS JEAN VEST. But I didn't want to buy one. (That seems to be the story of my life eh?) But the vintage jacket I bought just so happened to be Levis. I resolved to cut the sleeves off and turn it into a vest.

This is where my dilemma came in. I am really not so hot at DIY. I am impatient and don't take my time with things and mostly the things I DIY don't look anything like they do on Pinterest. So I was nervous about cutting this unarguably great denim jacket and ruining it to make a vest that I might not even like too much. I sought advice from my sewing pally Hannah and she walked me through the whole process, assuring me that it was easy, and that I could do it. But I was still super trepidatious about doing it myself due to my reputation as a mangler. (Mangler, a word used to describe someone who literally wrecks everything they touch) WHAT TO DO!

I obviously cut the thing up. And to be honest, I am LOVING the results. It may not look like the most sophisticated jacket ever, but I like it. AND. I wore it to work today and the barista at Starbucks was all, "WOW, I LOVE YOUR VEST" (in case you didn't know, baristas talk in all caps due to their insane energy, really, I can barely keep my eyes open at 7:30AM)

Thursday, 16 August 2012

I have been on the hunt for the perfect leather jacket for some time now. My unfourtunate weight gain caused me to frantically give away all my clothes that didn't fit anymore, and I found myself without a leather jacket. In my opinion a bomber or jacket is a staple in any wardrobe. It's tough looking but can look girly and chic all depending on the fit of the jacket.My issue with buying a leather jacket is that most of the time, a good one is ridiculously expensive, and I am ridiculously cheap right now. I thought I would cut corners a bit and get one from Zara, but even a Zara leather jacket is like $199.99, and I just DO NOT have the sort of cheddar to blow on a (probably) poorly constructed, plastic looking and feeling jacket. I like QUALITY, but the QUANTITY I am willing to spend doesn't really match the quality I'm looking for. It's a catch 22.Over the weekend, Charles and I stopped at the BCBG Outlet store in Gatineau, if you haven't been yet, I really suggest you do. It's huge! Anyways, always a stickler for a great deal, I found this leather jacket that is both girly and yet totally rad for an astounding $149. (down from $502!!!!) The shoulder pads make me feel like Tina Turner Beyond Thunderdome, but the cute frill at the front balances it out and reminds people that I am a GIRL.

I can't wait until it's cool enough to wear it!! And in case you are wondering, I cropped my face out of all the pictures because my skin has gone into full pre-teen pizza face mode. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME!??! I thought your mid-twenties were supposed to be the time in your life when your skin is PERFECT. I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN LIED TO!

Wednesday, 15 August 2012

Hungover Sundays are perfect for walks in Gatineau. Even though once we got up there the first thing we noticed was a huge rain storm coming our way, we got about 5 minutes of looking at the amazing view before we had to jump in our car and drive home.

Tuesday, 14 August 2012

Well you guys, it has finally started! The moment we all wait eight and a half months for each year. You know what I'm talking about...Fall shopping!I'm starting off slow and thrifty, which to be honest is kind of going to be my pace this year. Back to school is draining most of my funds not leaving much left for clothes. But to be honest I'm kind of proud of myself so far for not going all out.I'm one of those people that seem automatically drawn to the more expensive things in life, despite not having an abundance of funds, but I'm proud to say that so far most of what I've bought for fall has either been on sale or cheaper than an item that I wanted to buy somewhere else. I'm learning!

I have such a love affair with blazers, I love wearing them instead of cardigans or hoodies. (I actually don't even own any hoodies, if I need one, I just borrow it from Charles!) And this blazer is the perfect wine colour and the perfect material for wearing indoors, or with a scarf on a cool fall day.I also love this knit. I was drooling over an Acne sweater that is a really similar grey-black colour, but not having $300 (Outrageous!) to spend on one sweater, I compromised and got this one instead for a fraction of the price. And I love it!I found these Steve Madden boots at Marshall's the other day for half price and just knew they had to come home with me. They're so cool and casual. Perfect for fall and winter.So there you go. I've started my fall stockpile. Have you started hunting/gathering yours?

Monday, 13 August 2012

Charles and I decided to host a super fancy dinner party for two on Friday. So I cracked open some wine and started cookin'!My plan was to make a "Butternut Squash Lasagna" which, to get right to the story, kind of sucked. I think I didn't put enough sauce in it or something. But what I really want to share is the APPETIZER I made.Proscuitto and brie on a baguette baked in the oven with some Village du Gourmet Brie topping. I used the cranberry and orange liqueur one and it was SOO GOOD.As much as I love summer, I am really starting to look forward to the crummy weather because it just makes me want to cook!

Tuesday, 7 August 2012

Blog readers! Normally I DESPISE the whole "Like" this or "Follow" that internet scene, but I'm going to make an exception right now.Right by Midnight (the band Charles is in) is competing in our local radio station's (Live 88.5) "Big Money Shot". It's kind of like a Battle of the Bands only a lot more complicated and with a lot more at stake. The winner gets a BUTTLOAD of funding for their band to make an album, tour, or whatever. And Right by Midnight has made it past the first few rounds! It's so exciting!But now it gets intense, last weekend they were sent to Toronto to record one song in 12 hours with an established producer. (The guy who produced their song also produced the Proud-to-Be-Canadian song "If I Had a Million Dollars" SO COOL) So the guys took the day off work and headed down to the big city. They recorded until 3am to get this song done. And now Live 88.5 has put all the bands' songs up on their Facebook page and are leaving it up to the fans to vote!Now I know every girl whose boyfriend is in a band will tell you that their boyfriend's band is the bees knees, when really...they aren't. (Trust me, I used to date a guy who called his type of singing, "pig squealing"...yeah) But I can tell you right now that Right by Midnight deserves to go to the next round. So if you're feeling generous or curious, or if you just want to support local music, go to the Live 88.5 Facebook page (Just search for live 88.5) and vote for RIGHT BY MIDNIGHT. If not because they're a really great hard-working band, vote to ensure that some day Charles is a super famous washed out rock star and our crazy lives can be documented on reality TV a la "Osbournes". SHAAAROOOOOOONNNNNNNNNN!!

Monday, 6 August 2012

To be honest, I haven't been feeling very good lately. Or even very creative for that matter. I've been stuck in a daydream that lasts from about 8am-4pm and then I make dinner, watch Buffy and go to bed. Of course, I do some fun, summer-type stuff in the middle too. But the majority of my day is spent looking out the window, thinking about what I want in life.Now I'll tell you right now, I change my mind with the wind, but some things have always stuck. I've always loved writing, and I've always loved fashion. As a kid, I would raid my Grandmothers closet and take out all of her gowns and jewelry and just load it on. My grandmother, who literally dressed and acted like some sort of German royalty, always had the best clothes, and I always had the best time dressing up. I also have vivid memories of being in school and being given the option to A) Write a 2,000 word essay on the symbolism in Macbeth, or B) Make a comic strip about Macbeth. Ninety percent of my class did the comic strip. I chose to do the essay. (That I got a very good mark on by the way!)Anyways. As I've told you all for the ten millionth time, I'm going back to school for journalism. I'm so excited to get better at the writing, layout and photography and everything that I started four years ago. But what I'm really getting stoked on, is the idea of the internship. For the last six weeks (I think) of the course you get to do an internship basically anywhere that will have you. If you want to go across the globe to do your internship, you (theoretically) can.I am fully aware of the conundrum that is fashion internships, (how you can't really get one without connections, but how can you make connections without an internship) but come next March, I am going to be really gunning to get an internship doing something fashioney. Whether it be here in Ottawa, or somewhere else. I really don't think I will ever be happy until I have a career doing the things I've loved since the start.While the idea of owning a nice house with a nice lawn here in Ottawa is no-doubt enticing for me; the idea of having a career I am passionate about, seems far more appealing than working a boring 9-5. I understand completely that doing so-called "fashion journalism" may not be the most reliable or stable career, but it's something that I need to take a stab at. I keep seeing such inspirational captions on Pinterest saying things like, "Shoot for the moon because if you fail you'll at least land among the stars" or, "You'll miss 100% of the shots you don't take" and as cheesy and Halmark as these quotes are, they are totally right. I'd rather try this out and shoot for something huge and end up being a beat reporter with a fashion blog on the side, than never try anything at all and remain a secretary or assistant for someone else's passion.Basically what I'm trying to get across is that I know that what I want in life isn't going to be easy, and it may not always be fun, but I need to try it. And hopefully it works out, but if it doesn't, at least I'll know I went for it. OH-KAY. That worked. I'm all pumped now. :)

Feeling a little nostalgic the other night, I was creeping my own Facebook and found a few old photos my Mom added a while back. Proof of my bambino-fashion-wild-child status. Trust me when I say these photos are the tip of the iceberg when it came to my pre-Vogue fashion sense. I was always putting weird things on, playing games on my own (I'm an only child!) and always insisting on wearing the reddest lipstick. Check out varying degrees of baby Jen!

I'm the darker red, obviously wearing the red lippy.

I used to drive boats in stunner shades too.

I really don't have much to say about this outfit, except I'm fairly sure I was pretending I was a fisherman or something.